Qufu Travel Guide

Qufu lies in southwestern Shandong province, a town known as the hometown of Confucius, the thinker of the Spring and Autumn period. The Temple of Confucius, the Kong Family Mansion and the Cemetery of Confucius in the city are collectively called the Three Confucian Sites, and form part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu.The Temple of Confucius is one of China's largest ritual complexes honoring Confucius, with nine courtyards arranged along a north-south axis. The central Hall of Great Perfection is counted among China's three great palace halls, alongside the Hall of Supreme Harmony in Beijing and the Tiankuang Hall of the Dai Temple on Mount Tai, and its roof of yellow glazed tiles is striking. The Apricot Altar, the Thirteen Stele Pavilions and other structures and inscriptions conveying the long history follow one after another.The Kong Family Mansion is the residence where Confucius's descendants lived for generations, notable for its structure combining an official office and living quarters. The Cemetery of Confucius is the burial ground of Confucius and his clan, where tombs of successive generations are scattered in a quiet forest of ancient trees. At the Three Confucian Sites, grand memorial rites are held every year to coincide with Confucius's birthday, drawing worshippers from home and abroad.Qufu can be reached by high-speed rail, and the Three Confucian Sites in the city are grouped in the center and can be toured on foot. Please take a quiet moment during your journey to touch the calm presence of a town where Confucian thought still breathes.